Wednesday, 15 August 2012

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has advised
individuals and enterprises to desist from supplying expired products as they
will not only be punished in accordance with the law, but that they are also
putting the lives of consumers at risk.

THE COMMISSION has said this in light with the seizure of expired
medical drugs at Simon mwansa Kapwepwe international airport in Ndola by the pharmaceutical
regulatory authority (PRA).

Commission executive director chilufya Sampa SAYS
the Commission hopes that the supplier of the donated medical drugs would be
traced and brought before the law.

In expressing happiness for the seizure the expired drugs by the pharmaceutical
regulatory authority Mr Sampa has urged the regulatory authority to
conclusively investigate the matter, as this violated both the consumer rights
and the law.

Mr Sampa has explained
that the sale of expired products is a prohibition of section 52 clause 1 of
the CCPC Act of 2010 which states that “A person or an enterprise shall not sell any goods to Consumers
unless the goods conform to the mandatory safety standard for the class of
goods set by the Zambia Bureau of Standards or other relevant competent body.”

He says it is unfortunate that some people are perpetrating vices
which pose a health hazard to human beings, and this calls for concerted
efforts from all stakeholders if this scourge is to be curbed and perpetrators
brought to book.

Mr Sampa has further urged members of the general public and other
regulatory authorities to continue being vigilant and double their efforts in
curtailing the further supply of such medical drugs.

He has also commended the Pharmaceutical Regulation Authority for
their vigilance, and implored every Zambian to be vigilant and alert the
relevant authorities in case of any suspicious product.

Mr says the commission is confident that the battle against such
vices can be won if everybody took part.